Bayonne drivers: Potholes are doing number on vehicles and wallets

Bayonne city officials announced last week a blitz on filling potholes with a "Pothole Brigade," but residents across the city say it's not enough, leaving them with bigger dents in their wallets than in the streets.

Avenue C resident Kamil Nowagrodzki, 30, was in the repair shop on 1061 Broadway getting new tires for his car. His wheels couldn't withstand the bumpy streets, he said.

"I had to pay $300 for a new tire on a Ford Edge," said Nowagrodzki. "The potholes are terrible."

City officials blame the harsh winter, snow removal operations and
de-icing chemicals for the abundance of potholes that have opened on the
city's heavily traveled thoroughfares.

"With over a dozen major winter storm events from October until now, our streets have taken a beating," Bayonne Mayor Mark Smith said in a statement. "We will be focusing on pothole repair for the next few weeks in advance of our annual paving program.”

Mike, owner of Hudson Collision on 641 Broadway, who provided only his first name, said damage from potholes is expensive to repair depending on the car you have.

"It's usually the rim and tires that are damaged," said Mike. "And it's usually only one tire that is damaged."

He said the costs can vary from $200 to $300 to as much as $3,000 on luxury models.

"Mercedes Benzes have special wheels that cost about $1,500," said the owner. "In the last couple of weeks I would say 30 to 40 people came in because of pothole damage to the cars."

Omar Lopez, 30, of West 54th Street, who recently moved to Bayonne, said the pothole situation is something he has never experienced before.

"In Florida we don't have potholes like this," said Lopez. "Potholes are so deep in the some parts (of the city) the muffler on the car hits the ground."

Ed Powers, 62, of West 53rd Street, saw a Department of Public Works truck filling potholes on his block last week.

"It's pretty bad," Powers said of the potholes in the streets. "But they're starting to fill them. I saw them fill a pothole with asphalt."

Jack Resal, 48, of NAPA Auto Parts on Broadway, who commutes from Queens to Bayonne. said the potholes on the Belt Parkway are worse than the ones in Bayonne.

He added that the area near the border of Jersey City and Bayonne on Broadway was one spot that has "never been fixed."

The city said as of last week 300 potholes have been filled by the DPW.

Nowagrodzki saw his car go up on the lift in the auto body shop and inspected under the car for any damages to the suspension.

"I'm going to drive very slow so my new wheels can last," said Nowagrodzki. "We pay taxes. I hope they fix these potholes."

Residents can report potholes to the city's designated hotline at (201) 858-6705 or e-mail Mayors.Office@baynj.org.